Friday, March 27

Recently a reader requested I do a chalkboard round-up, and see what y'all think about using chalkboards as a useful part of your home decor, and if any of the readers out there have created their own, using the fairly new chalkboard paints out there. Does anyone have any tips for us on the best brands, ideas on how to create our one that's unique and fun, and finally any advice and/or pitfalls to avoid when creating our very own DIY chalkboard. Do let us know! In the meantime, here's a view of some great uses for Chalkboards in your home, including my own (above) which I enjoy posting quick notes to myself, occasional dinner party menus, and greetings to new guests to my home.

35 comments:

I am obsessed with chalkboards. I'm longing for a wall for one. When I was little I had one of the mini ones like in the first image. I cannot even remember where I got it from...but seeing that photo just took me there. :)

I've got a short door in my kitchen that opens to a small pantry. I painted it with chalkboard paint. It's great for the little one to draw on or to scribble down something I need to remember to buy. It was an easy job and if I grow to hate it it's just a matter of turning the door white again. I just used basic black paint, nothing fancy. :)

Any tips on where to actually find a big vintage chalkboard like yours?

I've been on the hunt for one forever, and regularly troll eBay, craigslist, and the Alameda flea market for large old chalkboards, all to no avail. The only thing I've found online is this one, which I'm seriously lusting after but which is WAY out of my price range.

Oh yay, more chalkboard lovers! I (mckayvb)took an old door to our house that was sitting in the garage and painted it with leftover chalkboard paint. I think it is a great way to repurpose things. One tip is to use chalkboard markers to help reduce the chalk dust. I found some online here:http://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Chalk-Marker-Classic-Primary/dp/B000FWI9HOThere are cheaper options where you can just buy one.

And another tip is to use wd40 to help erase the boards. I know it sounds weird, but it works. It cuts grease in your kitchen too!

We had a chalkboard wall in our apartment in L.A. A few recommendations:- I wish we had only used white chalk; the other colors offered were pretty hideous- If you're not a good artist, maybe a chalkboard wall isn't for you (me)- If you are a good artist, totally do it- It's a fun activity for parties or when you have anyone over, to have them contribute something- I didn't find it useful enough for daily notes and such- wrote about it here: http://voughtsathome.blogspot.com/2009/01/chalkboard-paint-wall.html

We painted our pantry door as well and love it. The bottom half is my daughter's terrain, the top is for my menus for the week and in the middle is our running grocery list. It's such a practical solution! one word of advice, do at least three coats so that the surface is smooth enough to take the chalk. We just use a wet washcloth to wipe it down.

If you live in Chicago, Scout (a home furnishings store in Andersonville that rocks) has several vintage chalkboards. I've been eyeing them and figuring out which space I'd fill...but thought I'd share the tip with fellow design junkies. :)

Virginia made a good point. We used colored chalk, and I definitely like white a lot better. We originally wanted to paint a small area near our front door to jot down where the car was parked, but went for it and painted the entire side of our hallway. Although I'm not an artist, our friends have a blast when they come over and spend more time gathered in the hallway than anywhere else.

I wrote a little about the project here:http://bangsabeardandballyhoo.blogspot.com/2009/02/love-is-in-air-and-little-chalk-too.html

We used Rustoleum, which was thick on the roller and had a smooth, even finish. Two thumbs up to the chalkboard.

I had the most unflattering full length mirror with a wooden frame that I never used. I removed its stand and painted over the glass with chalkboard paint and leant it against the wall in the kitchen - we use it all the time now :)

I keep thinking I love chalkboards - but then I never get around to writing on them! I have a small cupboard with a chalkboard door from Ikea's kitchen range - it's brilliant. I use it as a spice cupboard - and it's supposed to be a 'memory board' for any visitors - but no-one ever seems to write on it! I have recently bought a little tin of blackboard paint - am waiting for a use for it!

I decided to use chalkboard paint on metal flashing so I could have a magnetic chalkboard. Maybe it was the roller I used, but the paint went on so thick it dripped while drying, so I'm going to have to pull it off the wall, sand and repaint it while laying flat. You live and you learn I guess.

love the experiences with paint. . . it gives us so many options for re-puposing old architectural elements.

i have searched for old chalk boards too, and I think they're more plentiful in New England than here in California. I would say if anyone plans a vacation in VT or CT, head for the antique collectives and the flea markets, especially the Elephant's Trunk in CT for early buy at 6 a.m.

Old chalkboards are indeed hard to find on the west coast. I'm not really sure why, but while visiting South NJ I came across several in junk shops. Unfortunately, they were to big to bring on the plane. I tried to talk my sister in law into them but she was couldn't understand having "old junk" in her house. A good place to look are office supply stores that sell used office furniture. Also army surplus stores.

I love the round up! I found that even though my chalkboard paint can said you only needed one or two coats, it worked best if I did several light coats with very light sanding in between. This gave me a smooth, even texture that is easier to write on and it looks better.

Chalkboards may be a fad, but they are so useful that I think they will stick around. We have ours on our door, which makes it perfect for reminders as we are are flying out of the house in the morning.

i painted our spackled over (so sad) fireplace wall with blackboard paint in the studio--crayola actually makes a good one! but you know i have all my empty vintage picture frames on it but we never really draw on it--it looks so good just black and fresh like that--i suppose we will sometime...in the meantime you can see a glimpse of it in my blog's header!